The Much Awaited Return of Promotion Maths

[VillaAlways]

The poster I was responding to said, "Should be third soon as Sheffield Utd are having a poor patch. Small steps."

That sounds easy, but it's not just a case of worrying about Sheffield Utd. So i pointed out we actually made a small step this weekend. Backwards.

If you can show me we're still in 4th, and therefore I am wrong, then I'll retract my comment.

I couldn't care less if we're 4th or 5th in December to be honest, it's pretty meaningless. I'll start moaning if we become out of contention for the automatic spots. At the moment we're well in the mix.

[Villa75]

Ah, I see. Moving from 4th to 3rd would be worth talking about, and a positive "small step",  but dropping from 4th to 5th isn't worth mentioning.

That sounds a bit 'precious' to me. Any movement up or down, when your at the top or bottom end, is surely worthy of a mention. It's not "moaning" to point it out.

[PeterWithesShin]

There's a thread in Off Topic for movements at the bottom end.

[VillaAlways]

Ah, I see. Moving from 4th to 3rd would be worth talking about, and a positive "small step",  but dropping from 4th to 5th isn't worth mentioning.

That sounds a bit 'precious' to me. Any movement up or down, when your at the top or bottom end, is surely worthy of a mention. It's not "moaning" to point it out.

So your expectation is that we win every game from here on in , yes ?

[Villa75]

Ah, I see. Moving from 4th to 3rd would be worth talking about, and a positive "small step",  but dropping from 4th to 5th isn't worth mentioning.

That sounds a bit 'precious' to me. Any movement up or down, when your at the top or bottom end, is surely worthy of a mention. It's not "moaning" to point it out.

So your expectation is that we win every game from here on in , yes ?

How did you get that from what I posted?

[olaftab]

It’s a fair comment that we have regressed this week but that will happen from time to time. We must adopt a one step back two steps forward approach. We will not close down on Cardiff for about another 15 games  so there are no quick fixes it’s a long battle.

[VillaAlways]

We're a point off 3rd. It's not really a regression. I think the team will be feeling very positive after the Leeds result, they looked elated at the end.

[olaftab]

Before this week's games we were 4th after we are 5th. Those are the facts. Team feeling elated is justified as they did very well coming back from a goal down however that does not alter facts.

[Ads]

I don't see how that disapproves what SHQ said though or where anybody has disagreed that we're 5th.

[Chris Smith]

It’s a fair comment that we have regressed this week but that will happen from time to time. We must adopt a one step back two steps forward approach. We will not close down on Cardiff for about another 15 games  so there are no quick fixes it’s a long battle.

I agree, analysing game by game fluctuations is fairly pointless but probably inevitable when we are all understandably fixated on promotion. The trend since the iffy start to the season has been in the right direction and there is no logical reason to assume that will change.

[Ads]

If anything can be learnt about Friday it's that we have resliaince and quality in depth to change things around and swing momentum.

[Clampy]

We didn't play yesterday, other teams around us did so we moved places in the table. It'll probably happen again.

[Villa75]

We didn't play yesterday, other teams around us did so we moved places in the table. It'll probably happen again.

We had the advantage of playing the day before everyone else, but didn't manage to move anywhere, so your point is mute.

Teams moved further away from us by 2 points, or went above us, due to doing better than us over the corresponding fixture.

You make it around like we had a disadvantage by not playing yesterday, which is not true.

[Clampy]

We didn't play yesterday, other teams around us did so we moved places in the table. It'll probably happen again.

We had the advantage of playing the day before everyone else, but didn't manage to move anywhere, so your point is mute.

Teams moved further away from us by 2 points, or went above us, due to doing better than us over the corresponding fixture.

You make it around like we had a disadvantage by not playing yesterday, which is not true.

Well, we're a point better off and that's important. Table placing's don't mean too much at the moment anyway. We could be third next Saturday but that won't mean too much either, not at the moment anyway. As long as we're in amongst it and not totally adrift from the top two, then that's fine for me.

[Ads]

I don't understand your logic. We went away to a tough place and got a good point to make it 10 in 12. I'm not sure there's much to he concerned about, so early on and with the 4 teams above us so close and all to come to Villa Park.

Our strength comes in what we did to change the game and our injury situation. We are missing our spine and yet still had players of Lansbury and Grealish level of quality to come on and assist. That's what we have that nobody else in the top 6 does.

I would naturally have liked to win but almost a year to the day from my last trip to Elland Road I saw a repeat of a new found resiliance that has been absent for years. Four points away from home from losing positions.

I am confident we are going to be promoted automatically. Another 10 from the next four will have me further convinced.